A new Atlantic Division

Tonight's game against the Sixers only accentuates the new meaning that the Atlantic Division has taken on this season.

The Celtics go in with a 1-3 record within the division, and in fourth place. They lead only Toronto.

It’s also early, and Paul Pierce envisions a divisional battle unlike anything he’s known since his rookie year in 1998-99.

“It’s the best I’ve seen the division since I’ve been a Boston Celtic,” said Pierce. “It seems like all of the teams, with Toronto the only exception, are shooting high. It’s probably the best division in basketball. Philly is in the mix, along with us, Brooklyn and the Knicks. Right now it seems like the division is wide open, and any one of us four teams could win it.”

Not that winning the division has ever been a concern, especially in the Kevin Garnett era. The Celtics always have loftier concerns, like playoff seeding and finishing high within the conference.

“You want to win as many games as you can and play for as high a seed as possible,” said Pierce. “Wherever you fall in the division is where you fall. Division champs are not celebrated around here. It’s about the overall process. Obviously you want homecourt advantage in the first couple of rounds if possible.”

In light of the Celtics’ slow start, goals like homecourt advantage are going to be more of a struggle than ever to achieve.

As always, though, Doc Rivers views the divisional chase as strictly a byproduct of those greater objectives.

“We want to win the division, but it doesn’t get you anything,” said the Celtics coach. “We don’t even put the banner up in Boston. It’s not your goal. We don’t look at who is in it. Same teams have been in it. We still want to beat them every time we play them. Those teams have more meaning, clearly, but what winning the division does for you is the playoff seeding. That’s more important.” ... Leandro Barbosa and Jared Sullinger, both flu casualties over the last week, have both been deemed healthy enough to play tonight.